US military strikes continue despite Foley beheading

Washington - US war planes continue to strike Islamic State targets in Iraq despite the militants' beheading of a US journalist in retaliation for President Barack Obama's air campaign in Iraq, US officials said on Wednesday.

The United States has been conducting attacks on Islamic State vehicles and other targets in northern Iraq since earlier this month, as the White House seeks to help Iraq push back militants who have poured into the country from neighbouring Syria.

In an act of apparent revenge for the strikes, the hard line Islamist group on Tuesday posted a video showing the beheading of American journalist James Foley, who disappeared while reporting in Syria in 2012. The group also threatened to act against another US journalist reportedly in its custody.

Officials at the Pentagon said an announcement from US Central Command about renewed strikes was expected later on Wednesday.